Nicaragua police free students jailed amid violent protests

By

Susan McFarland

A banner reads "Ideas are bulletproof - Freedom forever!," during the seventh day of protests Tuesday against the government, at the Polytechnic University of Nicaragua in Managua, Nicaragua. The protests began a week ago for the reform of Social Security. Photo by Jorge Torres/EPA-EFE

Photographs of protesters killed during protests are displayed at the Cristo roundabout during a march in Managua, Nicaragua. Photo by Jorge Torres/EPA-EFE

April 25 (UPI) -- Dozens of students arrested last week during violent anti-government protests in Nicaragua have been released by police, officials said.

Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega attempted to quell the protests Sunday by revoking the social security legislation.

Monday, the U.S. State Department ordered government employees and relatives to leave the Central American nation. A day later, the Roman Catholic Church agreed to mediate the issue between the protesters and Ortega.

Vice President Rosario Murillo, Ortega's wife, told protesters Tuesday there was "faith that we are going to go forward united."

The United Nations Human Rights Office has called for an investigation into the deaths that resulted from the riots.

"We are particularly concerned that a number of these deaths may amount to unlawful killings," an agency spokesperson said. "We call on the Nicaraguan authorities to ensure that there are prompt, thorough, independent and transparent investigations into these deaths."

"The repugnant political violence by police and pro-government thugs against the people of Nicaragua, particularly university students, has shocked the democratic international community," it said in a statement.